Saturday, December 31, 2011

What are your new year's resolutions? Do you even make resolutions each year?

I am one who does not [usually] make resolutions each year. I think this has to do with mainly not wanting to let myself and/or others down when those goals are not achieved.

However, this year I am making a couple goals a.k.a. resolutions:

1. To be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. (Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" James 1:19-20).

2. Learn to RESPOND; rather than to REACT. Yes, there is a difference.Here is an article I read about responding and reacting. I love how the gal who wrote the article says: "Now, how can we learn to respond instead of react? Well, you can't learn it on the spur of the moment; it has to be built into your character and into your mind. The more you get into God's Word, the more you spend time with the Lord each day in fellowship and prayer, the more prepared you will be to respond. You have to build in those spiritual muscles, which are there for you when you need them." The basis of this article/website is on Christian Working Women. However, I do believe this article and much that the author speaks about on the posts can pertain to anyone (by simply replacing the words with man, daughter, wife, mother, father, son, friend, cousin, etc).

See how goal number 1 and goal number 2 go hand-in-hand? If I am in God's Word daily, meditating on His scripture, I will learn to respond, being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Will this all happen overnight? No. Because of the characteristic I already have that is in my heart and mind, it will take some time to learn to be this way; on more of a normal, everyday basis. Please be gracious to me if you happen to be on the receiving end. Know that I will feel horrible and will apologize.

With all this being said, I have one more goal:

3. To be the best mama, wife, and homeschool teacher that the LORD will have me to be in 2012. I have approached our kiddos with setting a goal or two for 2012 (afterall, setting goals is a good thing to do). I told them what my goals are and when I came to number 3, all three of them said "But you already are!" Forcing the tears back, but with watery eyes, I looked beside me and behind me and said "Do you see someone else here that is?" and laughed. They laughed and said "You already are a great mom and the best homeschool teacher in the world!" Even with my shortcomings, these kiddos surely know how to make a mama feel ultra blessed!!

Setting realistic goals will keep things in perspective and give you priority to what is most important. For me, this priority leans heavily on making Jesus the center of my life!

Have an amazing 2012 -- no matter the circumstances you are in or what may come!!!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Last night's Christmas jammies gift opening left me a little less happy that today would be another Christmas without my husband and the father to our kiddos with us. Deployments do that. They kind of like taking those you love away from the family during those special holidays.

What turned everything around?

The Christmas Eve service we went to at 11:30 p.m. It touched my heart and removed those negative contents and replaced it with WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT: the peace, love, and joy that comes from having a relationship with Jesus. Christmas came upon us "all of a sudden" -- I remember Thanksgiving was literally just here a few days ago, wasnt' it? With Christmas only hours away, I felt emotionally drained, just trying to keep it together, and all the while growing more impatient with waiting for William to come home, Christmas gifts to be opened and past us, and trying to maintain some sort of genuine smile across my face.

Christmas Eve service @ Canyon Ridge Christian Church 2011.
Photo taken by a dear friend over here.

I finally went to bed around 4:30 a.m. and had to get back up before 9:00 a.m. because that's when William was going to call on video to open gifts with the kiddos. Just so you know, I function a WHOLE LOT better when I have had at least 6-7 hours, but function perfectly when I've had 8 hours of sleep.

Anyway, the kids and William really touched my heart this year. I am a very blessed mother of three amazing children and a very blessed wife to one amazing husband whom I could never imagine anyone more amazing than he!!

After the kids opened their gifts, it was my turn. William said I had to open the gifts from the kids first and his last. They got me a handsfree ear piece, caramel syrup for lattes, sewing storage box (but they said it's for crochet stuff), and a card. I could completely tell they really thought out ALL of their gifts to me, which was really touching.

What really pulled on my heart strings and made me cry happy tears was the card:

MOM: Hope you know how
much you mean to me...

Even though I may never find the right
words or the perfect ways to show it,
I hope somehow you still know what I
feel in my heart. You're loved and appreciated
more than I can say.
Merry Christmas

William got me Timeless: The Selah Collection. I absolutely love Selah and the music they sing. It's more of a worship (slower) style than a praise (more uptempo) style. The music is very calming and when I really started listening to them a couple months ago, calm is exactly what I needed!

Timeless: The Selah Collection. William's gift to me.

No gift is as special and as precious as the gift of Jesus Christ. Earthly treasures may bring a happiness for a short time, but the joy that Jesus gives lasts for all eternity. The treasures I received from the kiddos and William will be forever ingrained in my heart because of the season in life that I am in.

But, the greatest gift that I will always treasure the most is salvation that has comes through knowing Jesus as my personal LORD and Savior.

"6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this" Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV).

"10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life" 1 John 5:10-12 (NIV).

Thursday, December 22, 2011

7. Children who make me laugh, even on days when the laughter seems to have left me.

6. For a countdown calendar that seems to have fast forwarded all on its own. I actually LOVE this one!

5. Days to relax.

4. A husband that is a Godly man and WANTS to love me, even during my unlovable moments.

3. Wisdom.

2. Jesus' perfect example of love! His LOVE is aaaaMAZING! Why would anyone want to deny His presence in their life?

1. Gift of being able to cook and bake. One day I'll have a bakers/cooks kitchen (double or triple ovens, BIG countertop spaces, lower cabinets -- because I'm short, walk in pantry ... You get the idea).

Remember, being thankful isn't just for Thanksgiving. What are you going to be thankful for each day of this week? These were some of the things I was thankful for last week. Come back next week and I'll tell you what I'm thankful for this week.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Today's topic is military related: You might be a military spouse at Christmas if ....

You postpone Christmas dinner and opening gifts until January or February, or March, or, or, or.... Christmas is a SEASON, after all, right? ha ha.

This is our second deployment through these holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.). Our first Christmas apart was 2007. We had the kids open up what they received from the squadron on Christmas Eve and then they opened up a couple gifts on Christmas morning.

For this Christmas, we have given the kids two options:

1. Open up their gifts on Christmas, with the exception of Christmas Eve pajamas; which they are so excited about because they can't wait to see what ones they get this year. Who would have thought that pajamas could be so exciting?! And waiting to open up the big gift when dad comes home.

OR

2. Open up the Christmas Eve pj's, all clothing items on Christmas morning and one toy, and wait to open the rest until dad comes home.

All three of the kiddos answered simultaneously: "The second one!" One of them said: "We want dad here when we open up presents even if we have to wait a couple months."I absolutely LOVE where their hearts are!

Sure, we could do the whole video thing on Christmas morning, but honestly, the video thing is a bit sketchy a lot of the times. Plus, it's just not the real deal.

Anyway ... you might be a military spouse at Christmas time if you wait to do the whole Christmas gift opening and dinner eating until your military man comes home!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Wow! Today is already Day 4 of the Christmas Blog Carnival from Wives of Faith. I have truly enjoyed blogging these last few days on topics that I have not blogged about, yet. So thank you, Wives of Faith, for hosting the 3rd Annual CBC. :)

Without further ado, today's topic is: The Best Non-Material Christmas Gift Ever. I literally thought ... and thought ... and thought some more about this topic a few days ago. Then it dawned on me. Actually, I think it was the LORD showing me what He gave us, that we did not want to have any more of.

It was Christmas Eve 2002 when we found out about our little blessing.

You see, we were not walking with the LORD in our early years of marriage (that in itself could be many blogs in length). It was November 2002 when we met with a doctor to discuss having the IUD put in late December of the same year. Talking with my best friend about the IUD just yesterday makes my stomach turn for what doctors do not tell you. A lot of docs are all about being politically correct as a medical physician. <---- this is a different topic.

I truly did not think I was pregnant, but had to have a pregnancy test done before they would be able to proceed with another appointment. Christmas Eve 2002, I got the phone call from the Family Practice clinic at F.E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming (our 2nd duty station). The nurse said to me, "I have the results of your pregnancy test. The results show that you are pregnant. I hope this is good news." At that point in our life, being very selfish and only wanting two kids -- it was NOT the greatest news. I accepted it and was scared to death at how I would be able to care for three children when I could barely care for two.

Corey. August 2003.

Corey. November 2005.

I COULD NOT IMAGINE life without our youngest, Corey. He is our little comedian. He is the ball of fire out of our three children. He is also the greatest little helper that God has given us. I think he makes a point to make us smile every single day. And as I write this, I smile, complete with a twinkle in my eye.

October 2010.

I have spent the last two days recalling how God has blessed us with the perfect package that consists of our three children. They have always been close, and any of our close friends and family can attest to that. They are pretty inseparable. God has entrusted these three to our care, to bring them in the ways of the LORD, to teach them, to nurture them, and to prepare them for life. I cannot describe how incredibly grateful I am that GOD DID NOT give up on us.

July 2011.

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The best non-material Christmas gift I have ever received was finding out that we were pregnant with our third child!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

My dad as Santa Claus -- this is my favorite Christmas memory. Each year he would dress up as Santa Claus, and while we were all at my grandma's house (my mom's mom), Santa would come for a visit. My dad was the perfect Santa: beard, cheeks, and belly .... and the he did the special Santa jingle just right:

"HO-HO-HO! Merry Christmas!"

Me (6'ish yrs. old) and Santa Dad.

**My dad passed away June 1999. I was 19 years old and we were stationed in England; less than a month being due with our first child. I wish he was still around ... there is no doubt that our children and my sister's kids would LOVE seeing Santa walk through the door. He will remain, to me, the perfect Santa!**

At Christmas time, I do not think I actually make an actual dessert; just an assortment of goodies from candies to cookies, etc. Christmas time baking is a favorite in our home with the whole family getting involved. Making memories is a great thing!!

One of my all time favorite goodies has to be the chocolate dipped peanut butter crackers that were at every Christmas gathering when I was a kid. You seriously cannot eat just one!

Ingredients:

*Creamy peanut butter

*Ritz Crackers; sometimes the Honey Ritz, even. *Almond bark and a little vanilla; actually, I have this thing with vanilla so it kind of ALMOST goes in everything I bake.

*Sprinkles, nuts, etc for topping -- if you want (which that's what I'm doing this year).

Directions:

*Melt chocolate in a double broiler. We do not have a double broiler, so we do the whole, glass bowl over a boiling pot of water thing.

*Spread Peanut Butter on one cracker; then top with another cracker -- like a sandwich.

*Dip into chocolate and be sure to coat both sides. You have to work somewhat quickly because of the hot chocolate and the peanut butter -- it kind of makes the peanut butter extra creamy which will make your cracker slide around.

*Place on waxed paper to dry; and top with sprinkles, nuts, etc - if you like.

Monday, December 5, 2011

My favorite Christmas movie? I thought about this and the only movie that truly pops in mind, amongst the plethora of Christmas movies out there is: Elf.

Buddy is my favorite elf of all elves!!!

This movie is the only movie, that when it is mentioned and talked about, I can actually recall the different scenes.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the movie Elf:

*there's a few conversation exchanges that I like that happen between Buddy and the Gimbel's store manager and between the "fake" Santa at Gimbel's, too -- but I only included quotes from Buddy, himself.*

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup."

About Me

Hello Visitors ... THANK YOU for stopping by! Here's a little about me:
1. I'm a Jesus lovin' Christian.
2. A very proud Air Force wife, married to my best friend.
3. We have 3 beautiful blessings.
4. I'm a homeschool mom.
5. I enjoy reading, scrapbooking, gardening, spending time with the family and pretty much anything else. AND ... 6. GO STEELERS!!!